Linde heads TFT-LCD industry in China with landmark on-stream gas facility at BOE
Maiden TFT-LCD project supported by Chinese government sees one of the largest nitrogen generators installed in the country

Trade News

Munich, Germany, 1 November 2011 – Linde LienHwa (LLH), The Linde Group's joint venture with LienHwa MiTAC Group of Taiwan, today announced a further strengthening of its commitment to the TFT-LCD industry in China with the opening of a major ultra-high purity gas plant at BOE Technology Group Co. Ltd's (BOE) latest 8.5 generation TFT-LCD manufacturing facility in the Beijing Development Authority. The significant facility investment is part of the Chinese government’s first endorsed project aimed at boosting the country’s TFT-LCD industry.

Andrew Lau, President and General Manager of Linde LienHwa in China, said: "This new plant strengthens our position as a leading gas supplier for the electronics industry in China, and demonstrates the increasing demand for our gases from electronics manufacturers looking for the most technologically advanced, cost effective and environmentally sustainable solutions."

The on-stream supply marks a significant milestone in the cooperation between LLH and BOE, a leading TFT-LCD panel manufacturer for televisions, mobile devices and display light products, and follows the 15-year bulk gas supply contract and electronic gas agreements signed in 2010 and 2011.

Very large volumes of ultra-high purity gases play a critical part in the manufacture of TFT-LCD technologies. They are used to create the microscopic thin-film transistors required to control each of the thousands of pixels that make up the visible image.

The new facility developed by LLH consists of an installation of the plant’s bulk gases supply systems, including on-site nitrogen plants including one SPECTRA-N 30,000 series ultra-high purity nitrogen generator, the biggest of its type in China. This allows the supply of 30,000Nm3/hour of nitrogen via an underground pipeline. LLH has also constructed high capacity liquid nitrogen storage tanks and storage and supply systems for other gases on the site, including oxygen, hydrogen and argon.

The growing local demand has made China a preferred manufacturing destination for TFT-LCD technologies, supported by several initiatives by the Chinese government. Government support also includes direct investment which was a key driver for BOE in this installation.

According to DisplaySearch, China is the top TV market contributing to 17 percent of the global TV shipments by Q2 2011. Production capacity in China is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 60 percent between 2010 and 2014, increasing China’s share by more than double. BOE is contributing significantly to this growth.

The on-stream supply at BOE's latest 8.5 generation TFT-LCD manufacturing facility reinforces Linde’s leading position in bulk gases supply business to Chinese electronics customers and expands LLH’s footprint in the Greater Beijing region where several significant growth opportunities are expected.

About Linde LienHwa (LLH) Linde LienHwa (LLH), a joint venture in mainland China between The Linde Group and LienHwa MiTAC Group of Taiwan, is dedicated to the supply of ultra-high purity gases and the delivery of engineering projects and services to the semiconductor, TFT-LCD, photovoltaic and LED industries. LLH provides Chinese industries with a powerful combination of local infrastructure and technology from the market leader in gases and chemical supply.

About The Linde Group The Linde Group is a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 50,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2010 financial year, it achieved sales of EUR 12.868 bn. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services.

Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

In Greater China, Linde has close to 4,000 employees working in around 50 subsidiaries and joint-ventures, and 150 operational plants in major industrial hubs across the region. Linde Greater China is headquartered in Shanghai.

About BOE BOE Technology Group Co. Ltd (BOE) is a China-based company primarily engaged in research, development, the manufacturing and sale of thin-film transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCD). BOE provides TFT-LCD products for information technology devices, televisions, mobile and application products and display light products among other display formats. Over the past 10 years, BOE has become one of the largest producers of liquid crystal displays in China.